US sets goal for timeline to achieve full ceasefire in Ukraine - Bloomberg
Photo: negotiations in Paris (Getty Images)
US representatives at meetings with Europeans in Paris outlined the goal of achieving a full ceasefire in Ukraine. The EU wants to know whether the US will tighten sanctions if Russia refuses, Bloomberg reports.
According to the agency’s sources, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff expressed their intention to secure a ceasefire within a few weeks.
Participants informed US officials that they fully support President Donald Trump's main objective - to end the war as soon as possible, a source said.
According to the sources, US officials stated they expect significant progress soon, and the participants of the meeting agreed to work in this direction.
According to a statement from the Élysée Palace, national security advisors and negotiators from Germany, France, the United States, and the United Kingdom will gather again in London next week to continue the discussions launched in the French capital.
Sanctions against Moscow
European officials also wanted to know what actions the Trump administration is considering if it fails to achieve progress from Putin. They sought to convince Washington of the need to toughen its stance toward Moscow, particularly through a "large-scale" sanctions package, the consideration of which Trump previously mentioned, a source said.
The Paris meeting was another attempt by Europe to influence the outcome of the negotiations, demonstrating that together with Kyiv, they fully support US efforts to end the war and that Russia must prove the seriousness of its intentions to negotiate an unconditional ceasefire, Bloomberg noted.
Meetings in Paris
The series of meetings in Paris, which also included US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, took place nearly a week after Witkoff traveled to St. Petersburg, where he spoke with Vladimir Putin for nearly five hours. He described the conversation as “persuasive,” stating that they discussed steps that could end the war and possibly also lead to business opportunities.
Speaking in Paris after meetings with European and Ukrainian delegations, Rubio said that Trump remains interested in a deal but has many other priorities around the world. According to him, Trump is prepared to move on to other matters if there are no signs of progress within a few days.
